Jack Pratt began playing drums when he was 10 years old.  His first exposure to drumming was through his school band director, John Frasier.  His musical activities in school included marching band, concert band and orchestra. In 1947 Jack went to check out a local drum and bugle corps.  It was here he met his most influential teacher, Norman Peth.  “I was flabbergasted when I heard him play, he was a fabulous drummer,” he said.  Not long after their relationship began, they both joined The Geneva Appleknockers.  He played with this corps through his senior year of High School. After high school Jack joined the army.  After going through music school at Fort Knox he auditioned for and was accepted into the United States Military Academy Band’s legendary field music group, “The Hellcats.”  In 1959 he became rudimental drum instructor and arranger for the group.  He stayed at West Point for 20 years until his retirement in 1969.  Although Jack plays at a level most of us will only dream of achieving, his true claim to fame is as a composer of rudimental drum music.  His first book 14 Modern Contest Solos set the standard by which all rudimental drum books will be judged! It is interesting to note Jacks original 1st book included the solos from 14 Modern Contest Solos, but was actually a much larger book. When Belwin, Inc. decided to publish the book they asked him to split it into 3 books.  The end result was the release of his 14 Modern Contest Solo’s, Ancient Rudimental Snare and Bass Drum Solos, and 128 Rudimental Street Beats. More recently, Meredith Music released Jacks newest book, Rudimental Solos for Accomplished Drummers, in 2000.  In 1990 Jack was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame and in 2002 the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.